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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #120689
Title: ESTROGEN RECEPTOR ALPHA AND BETA RNA IN CHANNEL CATFISH TESTIS

Author
item WU, CHUNFA - TX COOP UNIT TX TECH UNIV
item PATINO, REYNALDO - TX COOP UNIT TX TECH UNIV
item Davis Jr, Kenneth
item CHANG, XIAOTIAN - TX COOP UNIT TX TECH

Submitted to: General and Comparative Endocrinology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2001
Publication Date: 12/1/2001
Citation: WU, C., PATINO, R., DAVIS JR, K.B., CHANG, X. ESTROGEN RECEPTOR ALPHA AND BETA RNA IN CHANNEL CATFISH TESTIS. ENDOCRINOLOGY GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE. 2001. v. 124. p. 12-20

Interpretive Summary: The female hormone estrogen has been implicated in having some regulatory effect on development and function of the testis in several vertebrates. Estrogen acts by combining with a cellular receptor protein called ER and is found in 2 forms referred to as ER alpha and ER beta. Genetic expression of these receptors can be detected by measuring the RNA, called transcripts, for these proteins. RNA for each of the ERs were found in developing and mature sperm cells and in non-germinal tissue of the testis of mature channel catfish. These data suggest that estrogen, via these receptors has a regulatory role in male gamete development. This information will contribute to the understanding of gonadal differentiation and should help increase the reproductive efficiency of channel catfish.

Technical Abstract: The presence and cellular distribution of estrogen receptor (ER) distribution of ER alpha and ER beta gene transcripts in germinal and non-germinal epithelia of the mature testis of channel catfish. PT-PCR of whole testis RNA extracts showed that ER alpha and ER beta RNAs are present in the mature testis. In situ hybridization of histological sections of the germinal epithelium showed that primary spermatocytes contain little or no ER alpha or ER beta RNA. However, both ER Transcripts were present in secondary spermatocytes and spermatids, and their levels were relatively high in mature sperm. The columnar epithelium of the seminal vesicle also contained ER alpha and ER beta RNA, which was concentrated in the apical region of the cell. These data suggest that estrogens, via their receptors, participate in the regulation of male gamete development in channel catfish.